Each culture has its
own traditions, rituals and ways of expressing grief and mourning.

Understanding Cultural Issues in Death

Information for Schools and Crisis
Response Teams

Schools and crisis response workers in many parts of the country will
be helping children cope with the concept of death as a result of the war and concern about terrorism. Some children
are suffering a personal loss. Others will have a heightened fear of death either because they are worried about further
attacks or they have family members in the military, active reserves, or public safety roles. Some children
may simply be more aware of death and trying to sort through their feelings and thoughts.

Most important in working with children in these circumstances is to understand and respect the views and wishes
of their family, as well as to involve family members in the process. It is also important for school personnel and
others to understand various cultural and religious perspectives on death so that interventions are appropriate to the
cultural context of the children and families being served. Keep in mind that many of the people dealing with
death are also dealing with trauma, and that culture impacts trauma reactions as well. Although not comprehensive,
the following information provides describes some of the funeral/mourning practices present within our region.

Impact of Culture on Trauma

Influences how individuals
and communities interpret the meaning of a traumatic event and how they express their reactions to the event

Forms a context through which traumatized individuals or communities view and judge their own response

May help define healthy pathways to new lives after trauma

Observances
and Practices of Various Cultures

1. Practices of the Native American Culture:
Native American observances also vary considerably in their traditions, religions and rituals, but there
is a strong commonality among many tribes that centers on the natural world - the earth, the animals, the trees, and the
natural spirit. Even among those who have been converted to Christianity, there is an emphasis on the reunion
with nature that occurs with death.

Common practices include:

The Medicine Man or spiritual leader usually moderates the funeral or death service.
It may or may not follow a particular order since each individual is unique. In some tribes or clans,
burial is not traditional.

Some tribes call on their ancestors to come to join the
deceased and, in effect, help in his or her transition.

Most Native American cultures are not
concerned about preserving the body and so embalming is not common. However, dismemberment and mutilation
outside the natural deterioration of the body is taboo.

There is a belief that the spirit of
the person never dies; therefore, sometimes sentimental things and gifts are buried with the deceased as a symbolic
gesture that the person still lives. The spirit of the person may be associated with a particular facet of nature
- animal, bird, plant, water, and so forth. Symbols of such spirits may be a part of the ritual in the death
ceremony.

It is important to ensure that the burial of the person takes place in their
native homeland, so that they may join their ancestors, and so that they may also inhabit the land to which their loved
ones will also return.

In some tribal cultures pipes are smoked at the gravesites.

In some tribal cultures, there is significance to burying people with symbolic reference to a circle.

In some, there is significance in non-burial, but allowing the deceased to pass on to the other world in a
natural way.

2. Practices of the Asian-American Culture:
Asian-Americans may follow Buddhist, Confucian, or Taoist practices regarding death, with some elements of
Christian traditions.

Common practices include:

A family gathering at the funeral home to make arrangements, with the family elders
assuming ultimate responsibility for the ceremony.

There is great respect for the body.
Warm clothes may be used for burial and watertight caskets are used to keep the elements out.

Stoic
attitudes are common, and depression may result from the internalization of grief.

An
open casket allows for respect to elders. Often poems in calligraphy are left for the deceased. Among Chinese
Americans, a cooked chicken may be placed by the casket as a last meal for the deceased and spirits. The chicken
will be buried with the body.

Music is often used. A band may wait outside the funeral home
and accompany the procession to the cemetery.

The funeral route, burial location, and
the choice of the monument are important. Incense may be burned at the grave. Among some populations,
sacrifices may be made at the funeral.

A gathering of family and friends for a meal
after the funeral shows respect for the spirit of the deceased, and gives thanks to those who came to pay their respect.

A picture or plaque is usually kept in the home and displayed with items that create a shrine

3. Practices of the African-American Culture: Black/African-Americans
have traditions concerning death that draw from many cultures, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Some common patterns include:

High
involvement of a funeral director in preparations for mourning and burial.

A gathering
of friends and family at the home of the deceased to offer support and share in the common grief.

A wake during which music, songs and hymns are played or sung. Some African- Americans hold a service
known as a "Home-Going" service. It usually reflects the personality of the deceased and celebrates
the conviction of going home to Jesus and being reunited with past friends and relatives.

A
shared meal among grieving loved ones after the wake and funeral.

A funeral service followed
by a burial. Cremation is less accepted in the Black community.

A deep religious faith
and integration of church observances.

Memorial services and commemorative gifts.

Many in African-American communities mourn by dressing in white as a sign of resurrection and celebrate with
music and hope. However, Native Africans often wear red or black.

Black/African-Americans
often express grief at death with the physical manifestation of great emotion.

African-Americans
may believe in the concept of the "living dead". This concept refers to people who have died but whose
spirits live in the memories and thoughts of those still living. These people are the ones who will help
others who die move to the next world

4. Practices of the Haitian-American
Culture: Although there is diversity in religious practices among the Haitian/Haitian-American population,
they tend to share the following common patterns in the aftermath of death:

Close family members and relatives make arrangements for the funeral and church services.

A gathering of family members and close friends at the home of the deceased to pray and to offer support.

A wake is held at the home of the deceased every night from the time of the death to the time of the burial.
At the wake, they chat, eat, drink, and share jokes.

A viewing is followed by the funeral
service and burial.

Close family members mourn by dressing in black or white. The wearing
of bright colors such as red is not considered an expression of mourning. It is preferable to wear dark colors
such as blue, purple, and brown to attend a funeral.

Many Haitians express grief with
the physical manifestation of great emotion.

After the burial, family members and friends
usually gather at the home of the deceased for a reception, where flaky pastries, black coffee, tea, and other
foods are served.

5. Practices of the Hispanic-American
Culture: Hispanic/Hispanic-American populations also have diverse cultural backgrounds including individuals
from the islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, and those who come from Spain, Mexico,
and Central and South America. Most Hispanic populations practice the Roman Catholic faith, but not all.

Common patterns in the aftermath of death are:

High involvement of the priest in the funeral plans.

Family
and friends are encouraged to be part of the commemoration

The rosary is said by surviving
loved ones, often at the home of the deceased. Among some Hispanic groups the rosary is said each night for nine
nights after the death. Some families say the rosary every month for a year after the death and then repeat it on each
anniversary.

Funeral services often include a Mass. Loved ones are encouraged to
express grief and many are involved in the procession to the grave.

Many Hispanic survivors
commemorate the loss of their loved ones with promises or commitments. These promises are taken very seriously
and those who fail to honor them are considered sinners.

Money gifts to help cover the expense
of the funeral and burial are not unusual.

Friends and family gather at the home of
the deceased or family member to support and share in the common grief. This practice usually occurs following
the announcement of the death.

High dependence upon a funeral director and/or person of
the clergy in preparations for mourning and burial.

A visitation and/or viewing at a funeral
home is typically followed by a religious and/or graveside/crypt side service.

Funeral
services tend to rather subdued.

Traditionally, dark clothing tends to be worn during
ceremonial services; although this trend has shifted in recent years to a more color-based wardrobe focused on creating
an atmosphere of celebration and hope.

Interment is followed by a gathering at the home
of the deceased, or a family member where food and refreshment are provided.

Religious
Observances of Death

The role of religion is important for most victims/survivors because
their answers to religious questions form their view of life, death and meaning. Many people do not know their position
on religion until disaster strikes, and then their religious faith and beliefs are formed. Some religions give
individuals more power over life than others. Some religions give collections of individuals power over life. Some religions
give spirits more power over life than the living. Some give free will. Some give fatalism. All have defined ways
of dealing with death. Some religious differences include:

1. Jewish
observances

All customs are designed
to treat the body with respect; therefore, autopsies and embalming are generally prohibited. Viewing the corpse
is also considered disrespectful.

The emotional needs of the survivors are very important.

There is variance among Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jewish practices.

No
funeral is allowed on Saturday (the Sabbath) or on major religious holidays.

Music and flowers
are not encouraged.

Eulogies are given by rabbis, family and friends. When
the deceased person is held in high regard, there are usually several eulogies.

Family
members and others accompany the casket to the grave and are encouraged to place a shovel of earth on the casket, as a
sign of the finality of death.

The period of mourning lasts for one year. The mourner's
"Kaddish" or declaration of faith is said at the gravesite: "Blessed, praised, glorified and exalted;
extolled, honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One. May abundant peace from the heavens descend
upon us, and may life be renewed for us and all Israel, and let us say Amen."

"Sitting
shiva" refers to the seven-day mourning period immediately following burial. The family cooks no food and a candle
or lamp is kept burning in the memory of the deceased. The Kaddish is said every day during this time.

Some people observe a period of three days following the burial during which visitors are not received and
the time is devoted to lamentation.

After the first seven days, survivors are encouraged
to rejoin society but still maintain mourning by reciting the Kaddish twice daily for thirty days.

Many mourners may wear a black pin with a torn ribbon, or a torn garment during the funeral and for the next
week as a symbol of grief.

Newborn babies may be named after the deceased.
(This is important to remember since many cultures believe it improper to name people after the dead and, in fact,
adults may change their names to avoid being named after someone who was died.)

The
first anniversary is marked by the unveiling of a tombstone at a special ceremony.

2.
Roman Catholic observances

Since the Second Vatican Council, the
terms "last rites" and "extreme unction" are no longer used by the Catholic Church.

The Sacraments of the Sick are prayers that are said as the person is dying, and involve confession and communion.
If a person dies before the sacraments are given, the priest will anoint the deceased conditionally within three hours
of the time of death.

There is often a wake and, if so, the priest will conduct the service
or say the rosary.

There are distinct phases to "The Mass of Christian Burial."

Prayers at the funeral home

Welcoming the body to the church

Covering the casket with a white cloth

Sprinkling the casket with holy water

The Eucharist is celebrated

Prayers are said after the Mass

Casket is escorted to back of church

At the cemetery, the grave is blessed.

Consecration is a reaffirmation that the person will rise again. Prayers address not only the dead but the
survivors - their faith in eternal life is encouraged.

The one-month anniversary of
the death is often celebrated by a Mass, as are those of other anniversaries.

3.
Protestant observances

There are a wide range of Protestant observances,
including:

Often there is a family gathering at the family home or funeral home.

Caskets, open or closed, are part of passage. Memorial items may be placed in the casket.

Cremation is an accepted option for some.

Black dress is a part of mourning.

Funeral services include music and testimonials. Music may include traditional hymns and/or songs of
praise celebrating the Christian experience and the hope of everlasting life.

Gravesite
visits may be made.

Memorial services are common, and sometimes replace funerals and other
immediate observances of death.

Flowers and donations are preferred ways to express condolences.

Church members and friends will usually assist in providing the food needs of the family. The period
of time will very according to the needs of the family.

There is no formal structure to
observe the death, month after month or year after year.

4. Islamic
Traditions

Traditions differ in every country and the Turkish interpretation
of Islam is in some ways different than those in other Arabic countries. These comments are basically relevant for Turkish
culture:

Death is considered an act of God is not questioned. Faithful followers
believe that all the events in the life-course of an individual, including the time and type of death, are pre-written
by God.

People in grief are encouraged to show their feelings openly. They are encouraged
to cry loudly as it is believed that crying cleans the soul. Any expression of rebellion against God's decision
to take a person away from her/his dear ones is considered a sin.

Friends visit the
house of the deceased and talk with the family members, encouraging them to describe how the death occurred, what they
were doing at the time of death, etc.

For seven days, the family members are never left
alone. Friends and neighbors bring food, as no cooking is supposed to be done in a funeral home during those
seven days.

Traditionally, no television, radio or any musical devices would be allowed
for 40 days but this practice has waned in recent years.

There is a religious prayer
at the 40th and another at the 52nd day after the death.

Muslims
are very sensitive to where their beloved ones are buried. They definitely want them buried in a cemetery for Muslims.
They also want the funeral prayers to be led by a Muslim, not by a rabbi or a Christian priest.

A
special ceremony and prayers accompany the funeral. The body is buried without the coffin and wrapped in white clothes,
as it is believed that the body should touch the earth.

The body must be washed/bathed
with certain rituals before the funeral ceremony begins. This usually takes place at either a special section of the mosque
or in the morgue of the hospital. It is very upsetting when a body is buried without being washed.

When meeting with someone who has lost a relative, conversations start by saying: "May you be alive
and May God's blessings be on him/her - the deceased."

March 2003. Adapted from material
posted on the NASP website following the September 2001 terrorist attacks.

In light of the recent tragedy in Haiti, I thought I would begin with Haitian/Americans.

Practices of the Haitian-American
Culture:

Although there is diversity in religious practices among the Haitian/Haitian-American
population, they tend to share the following common patterns in the aftermath of death:Close family members and relatives
make arrangements for the funeral and church services.A gathering of family members and close friends at the home of
the deceased to pray and to offer support.A wake is held at the home of the deceased every night from the time of the
death to the time of the burial. At the wake, they chat, eat, drink, and share jokes.A viewing is followed by the funeral
service and burial. Close family members mourn by dressing in black or white. The wearing of bright colors such as red
is not considered an expression of mourning. It is preferable to wear dark colors such as blue, purple, and brown to attend
a funeral.Many Haitians express grief with the physical manifestation of great emotion. After the burial, family members
and friends usually gather at the home of the deceased for a reception, where flaky pastries, black coffee, tea, and other
foods are served.